If you have general questions or aren't sure whom to contact, please contact the SMART Learning Commons desk staff at the Walter or Wilson Libraries (see right sidebar). They can help you find a tutor, research help, video, or give general directions to where things are located. They process all video requests for faculty/staff, equipment requests, and Media Viewing Room reservations. They also print off practice exams from the Test Bank. The desk staff are trained Student Media Consultants, so can answer basic technology questions. While they do have varying degrees of expertise, many can help with software like FCPX, iMovie, and Photoshop. If they don't know the answer to your question, they will be able to refer you to the person who does.
Supervisors of Staff in the SMART Learning Commons Spaces
Charlie Heinz: Library Media Services
Brett Gray: SMART Learning Commons Peer Learning Consultant Tutoring
Andrew Palahniuk: Library Peer Research Consulting (PRC)
Other Contacts
Mary Lilly: Office of Undergraduate Education PAL Program
Scott Spicer: Library Media Services
Charlie Heinz
Site Manager - SMART Learning Commons
Questions about Media Services, audiovisual equipment, and media production software
Our staff of 16 students supports media literacy by teaching media pre and post production principles. We circulate audiovisual equipment, troubleshoot media technology questions, and assist with access to the media collection.
| E-mail: | heinz062@umn.edu |
| Office: | SMART Learning Commons 312 Walter Library 117 Pleasant St SE Minneapolis MN 55406 |
| Mailing Address: | SMART Learning Commons 108 Walter Library 117 Pleasant St SE Minneapolis MN 55406 |
| Office Phone: | +1 612-625-4812 |
Individual Learning Services Coordinator
Questions about Peer Learning Consultants and standardized test preparation resources
Brett supervises the Peer Learning Consultant program, which offers peer tutoring to students in a wide range of subjects including math, science, writing, and many more. He also oversees the Test Bank and the Test Preparation Resource Collection, which provide resources for students preparing for on-campus course-based exams and nationally normed high-stakes exams respectively.Brett completed his Master's degree in Educational Leadership and worked in university housing and academic advising before joining the University of Minnesota. Brett and the Peer Learning Consultants are committed to helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in the classroom and advance their learning.
| E-mail: | gray0331@umn.edu |
| Office: | 204B WaLib 117 Pleasant St SE Minneapolis MN 55406 |
| Mailing Address: |
SMART Learning Commons |
| Office Phone: | +1 612-624-6536 |
Andrew Palahniuk
Peer Research Consultant Lead and Instructional Technologist
Questions about Peer Research Consultants in SMART Learning Commons and other locations
Andrew Palahniuk assists the Information Literacy programs at the University Libraries. He coordinates the Peer Research Consultants program with Kate Peterson, teaches and manages the Intro to Library Research workshops, manages the Libraries' Orientation programs, and is on the Libraries' Instructional Design team.
| E-mail: | ampala@umn.edu |
| Web Page: | https://www.lib.umn.edu/about/staff/andrew-palahniuk |
| Office: | Library Coord Educ Svcs 240 WaLib 117 Pleasant St S E Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Mailing Address: | Library Arts and Humanities Room 108 WaLib 3725E (Campus Delivery Code) 117 Pleasant St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Office Phone: | +1 612-624-0365 |
Mary Lilly
Peer Assisted Learning Program Director
Questions about PAL program and supervisor for PAL employees
Mary Lilly directs the PAL program. Previously she taught in K-12 schools and had a career in insurance. Mary is a graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.A. English) and holds a master degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (MPA). She is passionate about PAL and a huge advocate of its methods and proven benefits. "PAL is for students who want to do the best they can in their courses. Our undergraduate facilitators are smart, well-trained, and deeply committed to helping their peers be successful in challenging courses." Faculty and students can contact Mary to request a PAL session for their course.
| E-mail: | mlilly@umn.edu |
| Office: | 220 WaLib 117 Pleasant St S E Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Mailing Address: | SMART Learning Commons Room 108 WaLib 3725H (Campus Delivery Code) 117 Pleasant St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Office Phone: | +1 612-624-1071 |
Scott Spicer
Media Outreach and Learning Spaces Librarian
Questions from instructors, instructional designers, and staff about Library Media Services including support for course-integrated media resources, student-produced media assignments, media use in research and scholarship
Scott serves as Media Outreach and Learning Spaces Librarian for the University Libraries. In this role, he functions as head of Library Media Services, providing vision and administrative leadership for the development of library-based media services to meet campus needs, depth of expertise in a range of media issues, as well as guidance to the SMART Learning Commons library spaces (emphasis media). Scott holds a Masters of Library Information Systems (MLIS) from Dominican University, and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction-Learning Technologies from the U. Scott's work, educational, and scholarship background is in the areas of learning technology, course integrated student-produced media, media resources, media librarianship, digital humanities/multimodal scholarship, learning spaces, and curriculum and instruction.
| E-mail: | spic0016@umn.edu |
| Web Page: | https://www.lib.umn.edu/about/staff/scott-spicer |
| Office: | Library Physical Science and Engineering 341 WaLib 117 Pleasant St S E Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Mailing Address: | Library Physical Science and Engineering Room 108 WaLib 3725F (Campus Delivery Code) 117 Pleasant St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Office Phone: | +1 612-626-0629 |
Vacant
SMART Learning Commons Director
Questions about the role of Department of Undergraduate Education in SMART Learning Commons and partnerships between SMART and other campus entities as well as the place of SMART in the national learning assistance field.
The director oversees the work, vision, and mission of the SMART Learning Commons, together with its partnerships with other campus units.
| E-mail: | |
| Office: | 325 Walter Library 117 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Mailing Address: | SMART Learning Commons Room 108 WaLib 3725F (Campus Delivery Code) 117 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
| Office Phone: | +1 612-625-6758 |
| Fax: | +1 612-625-5583 |
SMART Hours & Locations
Looking for group study space?
Rooms in SMART's Walter and Magrath locations can be reserved for two-hour blocks up to two weeks in advance.
Email SMART
Media Questions: smartmedia@umn.edu
All Other Questions: smartlc@umn.edu
